Workshop for current and prospective freelancers

Are you interested in starting a freelance business in 2019? Is someone you know interested?

Do you have a small freelance business now but you'd like to grow it significantly next year, or maybe take it from a side hustle to your main source of income?

I've been successfully self-employed as a freelance writer, marketing and public relations consultant, and teacher/trainer/coach for more than five years now. I am thinking about offering a class to a small group of people, sometime in December or January (depending on interest).

I'd love to get some feedback. I'm imagining a day-long class (on a Friday or Saturday, probably), and I would probably charge around $200 (give or take - not sure about pricing yet). I would find a hotel conference room or similar space for it, somewhere in Burlington or Greensboro.

I would like to help people with business aspects of freelancing. This might include some or all of the following:

The mindset difference between successful freelancers and struggling freelancers

How to market and sell your services

How to price your services

Handling your finances, accounting and tax issues. I'm not an accountant, but I do have an MBA and can provide you some good perspective on this stuff. I can also help you think about how to choose a good accountant to support your freelance business, and even whether you need an accountant to start with.

Basic legal issues to consider. I'm not a lawyer, but I can walk you through some of the legal issues you'll need to think about - business structure, contracts, etc. I can also help you think about finding a good lawyer to support you when needed.

How to provide and pay for benefits - health insurance, life insurance, retirement savings, etc. - if you want this to be a full-time gig.

Operational issues, including being productive, finding a place to work, buying/leasing/borrowing the equipment, hardware and software you might need.

Work-life balance, dealing with kids, spouses, pets, family members and friends, and learning to answer the question "What do you do?"

Questions such as "Should I rent office space? (And if so, how?)" and "Should I hire an employee? (And if so, how?)"

And maybe other topics I'm not thinking of at this moment.

That's a lot, probably too much for a single day-long session.

So, my question to you - and those you know who are interested in learning more - is this: Would you be interested and, if so, what would be most valuable for you to learn?

Let me know in the comments, send me a message via the form below or email me at mark@flyingcar.cc. For anyone who's currently employed and needs their interest to remain confidential, just email me and I'll keep your secret.